Links of Love

My husband and I both had a birthday this last week. It is wonderful to have birthday's so close to each other. Unfortunately his is before mine, and he alway's tends to one up me on his party planning for my birthday celebration. I was trying to think of something unique and fun for his birthday this year and had the idea of "Links of Love," basically a paper chain with one chain per year of life. On each chain I wrote something that our baby and I love and appreciate about him. It was really fun to put together as I was able to be reminded of all the wonderful things he does for me and our family! The fun part is that he did "Links of Love" for me also...I think we have a new birthday tradition. This will be very fun to do every year, especially when our children get a little older and can help out with the chain.
I have a sister-in-law who buy's the candy "Reisens," chocolate covered caramel candies. She writes out all the "Reisens" why she loves her husband on his birthday. Its a very cute idea also. Do you have any birthday traditions? Please share them with me.

Service Opportunity

I wanted you all to know about this project that I just found out about in my community for the Urry family. They are a special needs family with 5 handicapped kids. A local contractor is building a house for them. Abe Gilbert and Zane Underwood with Urbane Homes has graciously taken on the project to build the home. We have found a lot to build on in Oldham County, KY!

Please check out the website www.builtwithlove.org, and you can learn more about this project and meet the Urry family and learn of there needs. I was brought to tears when I learned of some of the trials they have gone through or are currently in. For example, there home roof collapsed during a huge ice/snow storm we had over a year ago, but they were unable to get a loan for a new home and now have 2x4's in their living room holding the roof up.

I am so excited about this project and would appreciate any support you could give. They need house supplies, contractors, and DONATIONS. Even a dollar would help if that is all you are able to give. My husband and I are low on money right now so I am going to have a bake sale and donate all the earnings to this great cause and hopefully lighten some of the financial load the Urry's are under.
Picture a modern era barn raising! That's what we are doing with the community's help. Please pass this on to anyone you know that would be interested in helping. Forward the website to your friends and help do a wonderful thing for a family in need!

Thanks so much!

Weather

Have you ever noticed how the weather effects your mood? It has been rainy and dreary for 4 days now. The Sun has been hiding for way to long! I need some natural vitamin D, and soon! I am so glad today that it is Spring, and not fall. I can have the hope for a bright, happy vitamin D filled summer!

Safety and Self-Defense

I have started a little group in my church and community called "Knowledge is Power." Once a month I have a guest speaker, or someone with a cool hands on craft that will teach a lesson to my friends/neighbors. It has been a blast so far! This is my third month doing it. We have learned how to make baby boy/girl beanies, the power of a budget and also the power of safety and self-defense. These courses have been sooooo fun for me! My husband is getting his MBA right now so I am trying to keep up with him with learning new and important things. (Of course all of my materials deal more with keeping a home and crafting, but this is much more fun then taking accounting, technology and economic classes.) Last nights topic of course was "The Power of Safety and Self-Defense," and it was phenomenal! This subject is very important to me since I have had a creeper break into my home at 2 a.m. and creep into my room and stair at me while my husband and I were in bed. This was something that I thought would only happen in my worst nightmares. I never dreamt that someone would actually enter my home and refuge from the world. There is a member of my church who was a police man for 34 years in the LA, California Police force. Who better could I get to speak to us than that! Anyway's I took some notes and wanted to share them with you all, since safety should always be a priority wherever we may be!

SAFETY:
-An Alarm system in your home is very useful! (You don't have to spend money every month on an expensive system. Brian and I have an alarm system we bought at Wal-mart for around $25. It is on all of our windows and exit doors.)
-Tazer's
-Tear Gas (This doesn't expire for a few years. Aim for the attacker's Eye's)

Two Important things to remember:
BE ANGRY if someone comes after you. Don't worry about how your attacker will feel, you are the most important
BE AWARE of your surroundings
-Look around you, Retreat if you feel you are in danger
-This includes walking into a store, bank, gas station and to your car.
-Be Careful about where you park, It is a good idea to alway's park with the front of your car pointing out.
(pull through the parking spot)
-Alway's lock your car doors, and keep your key's in your hand with you. (Car jackings happen in Gas
stations)
-Keep one key poked out between your finger, if attacked poke the creeper in the eye. The creeper doesn't
care about you, so don't care about him.

-You can help keep others safe. When driving through a parking lot look around to see if anyone looks as
if they need help,or are in danger. You can help discourage attacks.
-Keep your cell phone charged so you can always use it.

Think ahead of time. Its best to do this before the incident happens. Be sure to think on your feet!

SELF-DEFENSE
What will you do in the situation of an attack?-Fear the worst.
How do you protect yourself?
-Pretend a sprained ankle and fall down.
-Pretend faint-be unconscious. Be like a possum. Play dead. Its better to be kicked then it is to be raped. Your goal is to not be mobile. You do not want to go with the creeper. DON'T LET THEM TAKE YOU AWAY!! Its good to go limp because the likely hood of them picking you up and carrying you to there car is less likely.
-If the creeper has a gun pointing at you but hasn't shot yet they probably won't want to, or are still formulating a plan, think quickly on your feet.

Guns to consider having for safety in your home:
Revolver-5 round
Hand gun automatic- hold more rounds, shoot to stop
Something to think about using guns for defense: You are not shooting to kill, you are shooting to stop the attack and protect yourself and your loved ones. Remember you do not need to be concerned about your attackers well being! He is there to hurt you and if you can get him first then you will be doing yourself and others who may be his victim a favor.

Banana Slicer

I was walking through Kroger the other day with my sister and happened to notice a new kitchen tool I have never noticed before...the Banana Slicer! My first thought was "That would be so nice! (My daughter eats a banana every morning for breakfast.) My second thought was "What the heck? Why would I need a banana slicer!" Its not like I work up a sweat slicing my little sweetie her banana pieces every morning. How lazy could I be..So, then because I have so much time on my hands I googled the item, wondering how they market it, and this is what I found:
"If you are looking for an easy way to slice bananas, here you go. You put the slicer on top of the banana and create uniform slices."-WOW! This contraption would be wonderful! Rose could eat uniformly sliced banana pieces. YES! Just what I always wanted!(sarcasm)
So, my question to you is, is this a useful kitchen tool? Reviews said "it was a complete waste of money and kitchen space"... but perhaps if you own it you may really enjoy it, and I may get over my sarcasm of this item and just go purchase it, but I really probably won't.
Does anyone own a banana slicer? Just wondering.

Websites I got info from:
http://www.yumsugar.com/Banana-Slicer-Love-Hate-754227
http://www.kitchencontraptions.com/archives/012441.php

Trash Digger

"One man's Trash, is another Man's Treasure"
My Husband came in this morning after walking to his car and informed me that our neighbors had a doll house out by there trash waiting to be picked up. He asked if I wanted it for the baby and that it was a Pink doll house. Since it is Pink I said Yes! Bring it in! It is an adorable doll house. It definitely needs to be wiped down, but I can see Rose having so much fun with this. I believe I will put it in the attack and make it a Christmas present. We just saved ourselves a lot of money in the future!
My husband and I periodically become "trash diggers" I guess you could say we like other people's trash! We have been driving down the road before, and I scream out "Stop, back up." My husband is totally confused until I say, look at that book shelf someone is throwing away, or window or some other item that I think would have a perfect use in my home. (Of course I always make my husband do the dirty work of picking up the item... :) So, thank-you to my handsome, amazing, trash digging husband for finding our baby's first Christmas present this year!
Have any of you ever done this? I'm sure that there are more trash diggers out there than just me!!

Edible Playdough

I have decided that it is time to introduce my baby to Edible Play Dough. I found this great recipe on line and made it today. It worked perfectly and my baby has had a blast with it! Below is the website and recipe. They had mulotiple playdough recipe's to choose from. I made the Kool-Aid Play Dough. Have fun playing with your kiddo's today!

http://www.familycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/edible_play_dough.shtml

Kool-Aid Play Dough

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
3 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 package Kool-Aid Mix (any flavor of unsweetened)
1 tablespoon cooking oil

Mix dry ingredients together in a large saucepan. Slowly add water mixed with oil and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens to dough. Turn out onto a heatproof bread board or counter top and knead until cool enough for children to handle. Dough will be the color of the Kool-Aid mix and will smell like the Kool-Aid mix. (Can be stored in a tightly covered container for up to six months)

Tear

We went to a reception tonight and of course didn't make it until almost the end. We did make it in time however to see the Daddy-Daughter dance. It was really weird but this dance struck me much differently than it ever has before and I seriously got chocked up and started to cry, just a little bit. Not because I am looking forward to seeing my baby girl dance with her Daddy...I teared up because I realized that baby Rose won't be ours forever. I honestly think that no one could love her as much as her Mommy and Daddy. Thank goodness that we have a lot of years ahead of us, and we will probably be excited when the time comes...but I am soooooooo glad its not anytime soon. Have any of you teared up unnecessarily when your baby is tiny and you realize that someday they are going to leave you? I'm sure I can't be the only one dreading the day!

Mommy Moment

Today I needed to use the restroom, so I quietly snuck away from my baby, hoping that I would be back before she noticed I left. As soon as I closed the bathroom door, what do I hear?, but the pitter pattering of my babies tiny little feet walking across my bedroom carpet, then the tap on the door and then the screaming began. She did not just stand there and scream though. Oh No... In order to make it more dramatic she fell to the floor and screamed between the floor and the bottom of the door...she is only 13 months old. So much for a quick, peaceful break from the world of mommydome. I luckily had my cell phone in there with me, so I was able to record the screaming for my husband to hear later. (He got a good laugh out of it.) The sad thing is that I remember doing this exact same thing to my Mother when she was trying to take a nice, relaxing bath. The only difference is that there were 3 of us at the door screaming...so, sorry Mom. You probably were praying at that moment that I would someday know what it was like to need a moment, and not be able to take it. Your prayer has now been answered :)
Have you experienced this? Or do you remember doing this? How do you take your "mommy needs a quiet moment" breaks? Please share.

Quote for the day

Don't leave for tomorrow that which you could do today. You will just end up with a whole lot of empty yesterday's.
(From the Music man. Not an exact quote, put its pretty close.)

I think I'm gonna go buy me a Gerber Daisy today. I need its happiness in my Home! Perhaps you may need one on your table too.

Yard Work

The weather has been so beautiful lately and all sorts of flowers have been opening up to greet the sun...including all sorts of weeds and dandelions. I actually could barely see my flowers through the weeds, so I decided it was time to get dirty! During baby's nap time I pulled all of the weeds in my front yard flower patch, and man did it look good when I was done. Its amazing how taking down the weeds really adds to the beauty of your yard! As I was pulling weeds I was very surprised to find that I was actually enjoying it! It was really great to beautify my flower patch and home. I am looking forward to doing more in the back yard and getting my garden started.
When was the last time you worked in your yard? If its been a while go out and pull some weeds! You may be surprised at how wonderful you feel just being outside listening to the birds sing and pulling your weeds!
Does anyone have any garden tips? I am very new at gardening!

Sabath day Scrips

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my Yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
St. Mathew 11:28-30

Instant Gratification

I once again realized this week that I was allowing myself to become lazy and put my exercising on a back burner.I decided it was time to stop that way of thinking, so I put on the workout cloths and headed to the gym (my husband even volunteered to come with me.) We did a body pump class, which if you have never done one before I would highly suggest it. I loved the workout, it kicked my trash!! (It was fun to be there with my hubby too!) I could hardly get into and out of bed the next day. But guess what, when I woke up the next morning I wanted to do it again. Unfortunately my baby is in a phase that she doesn't appreciate me dropping her off for child care while I work out. So, luckily I have an amazing work-out-a-holic sister who always finds the GREATEST workout video's. She has introduced me to Chalene Johnson, who I absolutely LOVE!! She is motivating and has a great, fun workout that you can do in front of your t.v. I know this sounds crazy, but she really does talk to me. So, yes I have been walking everyday this week for at least 35 min. and then get home and work out with Chalean for 30-35 minutes and I feel GREAT! I have accomplished something that is very difficult for me (putting on my work out cloths and working up a sweat!) I have lost 3 pounds in one week and all of this has made me believe what Chalene Johnson say's- "NO EXCUSES! MUSCLE BURNS FAT!"
Here are the workout video's I have seen and LOVE!!! Seriously if you need motivation to workout, look these dvd's up, purchase them and enjoy everyday you get to work out with Chalene!
Turbo Jam Cardio Party Mix
ChaLEAN Extreme

What motivates you to work out? Do you have any great workout video's that you love? Please share them with me!

Spring has Sprung when Tulips Meet!!

I LOVE SPRING!!! My Daffodils came up a week and a half ago, and then on Sunday my Tulips opened up. It is so beautiful. All the trees on my street are white with blossoms. It is so refreshing to go outside and have all these beautiful things around me!!! I am so grateful for Spring after a long, freezing Winter!! What do you enjoy about Spring time? Please share with me!

Whats for Breakfast?

I am no longer nursing my baby and she refuses to eat bottled baby food. I guess she thinks she is a big girl. This new phase of life is a little difficult because I'm not quit sure what to feed her for breakfast. I want her to be healthy and still receive the nutrients that she needs. So, what do you feed your 1 year old for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I need some idea's!?

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

So, it turns out that the fussy, slobbery, feverishness that my baby had last week was not her molars coming in after all. After a crazy rash, with blisters broke out all over her adorable little body I took her to the doctor and was there informed that she was suffering from Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. The name is much scarier than what it should be! It ends up being a very contagious virus, that just has to run its course. It involves sore's in the mouth which cause a decrease in appetite, oneryness, and a lot of little rash like red specks and a few blisters. It usually starts with a low grade fever. I am happy to say though that after a long week of not knowing what was wrong with my baby, the illness/disease has finally left her body and she slept for 14 hours strait last night, which was so wonderful!!
I just want to say if any of my friends children have come down with this I am sorry! I have no idea where we got it from, but the good news is that now you know whats going on if your baby does come down with a mysterious fever!
If you want to learn more about this disease I found this website from the Mayo clinic to be very helpful!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/DS00599

Date Night!!!

We have decided to turn a new leaf in our marriage and start going on a weekly date again. We have been married for almost 3 years now and the dating has gone drastically down hill since then. So, last week we drove around and ended up at the bowling alley, where i bowled an amazing 56 points (I am still so self conscious about my lack of bowling skills, and am embarrassed to bowl in front of my husband!) After that we ended up the date at Dicks Sporting Goods, looking at guns...So, last weeks date was not the best planned out, but tonight hopefully will be. I have informed my husband that we will be dying eggs together for Easter. How romantic is that!? Of course when I told him this he groaned and asked why we can't just watch a movie and eat popcorn, but tonight we are having a cheap Easter date and I am really looking forward to it!
Are you going on a date this weekend? Have any great dating idea's? I am definitely open for idea's!

Not a fan of April Fools!

My husband texted me this morning that he got upset during a meeting at work and quit...and that he was currently being escorted out of the building. What was I thinking??? "Oh my heck, are you serious? What are you thinking husband of mine? Are you an idiot," (yes, i did call my husband an idiot, but only in my mind.) I didn't know if I should call and talk with his Mom, or call and Cry to my Mom, when I received a text-APRIL FOOLS!!! Erk! Jokes on me...Not funny hunny! Then my sister shows up literally seconds after I received the last text and I am shaking and then start crying...from shock and joy that my husband did not quit his job and that we will still be able to eat throughout the month. Whew, what an emotional April fools. Yes, I have forgiven him, but I am still not laughing, perhaps in a few months when I can look back on this moment I will laugh, but not today.
Has anyone pulled a prank on April Fools and were able to pull it off? Please share! I need an idea for next year. A war has begun!